Obstetric training as a way to improve family medicine resident recruiting in Rockford, Illinois

What if the solution to rural healthcare shortages starts in training? In Rockford, Illinois, the University of Illinois College of Medicine is redesigning residency programs to better prepare physicians for rural needs. Their "Stretch OB" track equips family medicine doctors with advanced obstetrics and surgical skills—allowing them to provide care that would typically require specialists. It's a new model for building a workforce that can actually meet the needs of underserved communities.